Friday, July 31, 2009

In Connecticut where fluoridation is state-mandated: "'I see people walking the streets with toothaches, teeth hanging out of their mouths,' said the former nurse's aide. At least 30 percent of the people in this city of 124,500 are impoverished."

Thursday, July 30, 2009

"Governor Signs Legislation (SB1393) to Fund Construction of New Dental ClinicsSenate Bill 1393 establishes a dental clinic grant program and procedures for communities to apply for funding of public infrastructure grants to improve access to dental care for low income residents. Additionally, $2 million to fund construction of dental clinics was included in the Capital Bill that became law on July 13, 2009. The coalition estimates that $2 million will be enough to open 10 dental clinics which will serve over 35,000 additional patients. These dental clinics bring us a step closer to closing the access to care gap. We will continue our efforts to raise reimbursement funding rates and to improve access to oral health care throughout the state during the October Veto Session."

Many Dentists Won't Fix Poor Children's Bad Teeth - The New York Times

"The New York Dental Society, a professional association, sued the state in February, saying that the state-run Medicaid program reimbursed dentists at rates so low that most refused to treat Medicaid patients. Of New York's 17,000 dentists, fewer than 1,200 handed in Medicaid claims in 1997, according to the State Health Department."

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

In 75% fluoridated Australia: "...the Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, said that the state of teeth was a significant indicator of income differences in Australia. ‘‘Dental health is becoming an indicator of wealth or poverty,’’ she said."

North Carolina is 88% fluoridated: "The lack of dental care is a widespread problem in North Carolina, which has one of the lowest ratios of dentists to overall population of any state and last year actually saw a decline in the number of dentists."

Wisconsin is 90% fluoridation: "WDA Mission of Mercy doors opened at 6 a.m., and care concluded by 5:30 p.m. both days. Twenty-seven percent more patients than anticipated received treatment, which exceeded the original estimate by 41 percent."

Because dentists focus on fluoridation schemes and not actually treating people who need them the most, "Deamonte Driver (age 12) of Maryland and Alexander Callendar (age 6) of Mississippi died because bacteria from a tooth infection spread when their dental disease remained untreated. Dental disease was also responsible for the death of Diane Stamps of Utah, an adult Medicaid patient who died when a tooth infection led to meningitis in her spinal fluid and traveled to her brain."

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

"Across the state of Maryland (94% fluoridated), there are now doctors and nurses, freshly trained in pediatric dental health care, who can help stem an alarming number of 3-year-old children who arrive for their first dentist visit with teeth 'just melting away.'"

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

In fluoridated Chicago, Illinois: "70% of children under 12 in Erie’s service area do not have a dentist, nearly 50% of children had not seen a dentist in over six months and 52% of children currently had a dental problem, Francis said.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Most of Benton County, Arkansas is fluoridated: "Oral health also poised itself as a major health concern for Benton County with 42 percent of those surveyed reporting that they have had permanent teeth pulled as a result of tooth decay or gum disease; 34 percent said that it had been more than a year since their last dental visit."

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Alameda County, California, has been fluoridated since the 1970's: "In 2007, 2,955 Alameda County residents sought emergency treatment for dental problems that could have been prevented, according to the California Health Care Foundation."

Sunday, July 12, 2009

"The dental profession in Connecticut is healthy, as there is ample workforce to treat those who seek care. The concern of dentists retiring due to the baby boom bubble has probably been put on hold with the decline in the economy. In addition, dentists are staying healthier longer and want to continue to contribute to the healthcare of the citizens of Connecticut. The studies we have seen show this trend will continue and there should be no dental workforce shortage in Connecticut for the foreseeable future."

Friday, July 10, 2009

Ireland is the only 100% fluoridated country: "The findings also show that there appears to be a direct correlation between poor dental habits and tooth decay, with 61% of Irish people over 30 claiming to have lost at least one adult tooth in their lifetime and, alarmingly, over one-third (38%) of people have lost more than three adult teeth."

Thursday, July 09, 2009

"While anyone over 50 might say that adding fluoride to toothpaste was one of the biggest boons of their generation, dentists are sadly seeing an upsurge in cavities in young kids over the last decade—kids you who'd think could live life entirely cavity-free. Researchers say this is likely due to the flood of sugary foods that are aggressively marketed right at them, including cereals that are up to 50 percent added sugar by weight. (And of course, even if you try to monitor what goes in your kids' mouths, they'll find sugar like a divining rod to water.)"

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

"-A recent survey of low-income parents has found that financial stress caused by the economic recession is forcing many families to choose between basic necessities such as food, transportation and housing, and routine dental care for their children – exacerbating an epidemic of poor dental health among children from underserved communities."

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Rutland town and city water departments add fluoride chemicals in a failed effort to reduce tooth decay:

Sen. Bernard Sanders announced Wednesday that $95,351 is coming to Rutland to expand a federally funded dental clinic that last year received almost 5,000 visits from 1,013 patients in the region — 90 percent of whom were on Medicaid or uninsured.

"The lack of dental care in this country is a huge problem," Sanders said. "That's one reason why I pushed so hard for this money."

For those who use the clinic, the expansion should translate into more timely appointments. Presently, there is a 4-1/2-month waiting list for the popular clinic, Whitmer said.

"As great as the need is for medical service, the need for dental care is dire," Whitmer said commenting on a dentist shortage seen nationwide.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Erie, Pennsylvania is fluoridated: "'The bulk of tooth decay and gum disease is due to a lack of brushing and flossing, and poor dental nutrition,' Alonge said. 'They need to brush and floss, and avoid high-carbohydrate foods and soda pop.'"

"'I know the need for dental care is great, so now I'm working here.'Even with the new MLK Center clinic, Erie County has a critical need for dentists and oral surgeons who accept Medicaid patients. Many of them must wait six months or longer to see a dentist, and travel to Pittsburgh to have a tooth pulled.The federal government estimated that the county needs an additional 12 full-time dental providers to meet demand."